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The Chaipattana Foundation Resilient Nation Recovers from Floods

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The Chaipattana Foundation Resilient Nation Recovers from Floods PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT INNOVATION Top business leaders Unbeatable opportunities An eye to the future Major private sector companies lead the way as Thailand Compelling incentives to invest have helped make the UK Investment in research and development boosts gears up for growing regional competition PAGE 2 Thailand’s top EU investor PAGE 5 innnovation across numerous sectors PAGE 8 See this report at THAILAND www.worldfolio.co.uk SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012 A king in the service of his people Thailand’s story remains intrinsically connected with the life and times of the world’s longest-reigning monarch hailand’s position today since then King Bhumibol has opened the palace Tas one of Southeast Asia’s only spent one night outside gates to allow foremost economies, with of Thailand. demonstrators take strong fundamentals for King Bhumibol embarked refuge.That evening, future growth has not come upon perhaps the most resolute,he addressed easily; and undoubtedly the comprehensive portfolio of the Thai people live on country’s story would be development programmes television. In a rare different without the devotion ever undertaken by a intervention into poli- and leadership of His Majesty monarch.He spent the first 10 tics, the king used his King Bhumibol Adulyadej. years of his reign travelling moral authority to Throughout many periods of throughout Thailand in order absolve the conflict and instability,Thailand to learn about and assess the incumbent as a nation has turned to HM key development challenges Thai the King, frequently referred facing the country at the time. Council of to as the Soul of the Nation His Majesty travelled as much Ministers given his role as a unifying as 30,000 miles each year by from duty and force for the Thai people road, and was the first appoint a new towards common goals of monarch to visit the north- administration to unity and prosperity. eastern state of Isan. The bring the country His reign began in 1946 in knowledge King Bhumibol back from the point the face of tragic and turbu- garnered throughout this of abyss. lent circumstances for Thailand period laid the foundation for King Bhumibol also and the Southeast Asian region the infrastructure and devel- intervened in a political dispute as a whole,but King Bhumibol opment programmes he has in 1992, after the controver- is now the world’s longest- been supporting ever since. sial appointment of General reigning monarch, renowned King Bhumibol has often Suchinda Kraprayoon as Prime for always committing himself shown leadership to bring the Minister. Protests led by a to working for the benefit of retired soldier,Major General Thailand’s people and the Chamlong Srimuang,engulfed country’s development. Bangkok. On the evening of Upon his official coronation Wednesday May 20,as anarchy on May 5 1950,royal concern and confrontation spread on rapidly focused upon the key the city’s streets, King challenges facing Thailand,and Bhumibol was shown on tele- how His Majesty could turn his vision with both General leadership into a helpful force Suchinda and Major General for Thailand to grow. Chamlong sitting at his feet, Following the withdrawal of while the king spoke with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his wife, Queen Sirikit once influential European regal calm.“Everyone knows powers in the wake of World how confused the situation is the winner,when standing on attention to considering a War II, conditions in Thailand and that it may well lead the a pile of ruins and rubble?” more sustainable and secure were ripe to ferment the “Our country country to complete ruin. I The effects of the King’s way of handling financial spread of communism. King does not belong would request especially of words of reason were remark- matters and economic affairs. The Chaipattana Bhumibol’s leadership was the two of you, General able: protestors moved from Based upon his wealth of paramount in maintaining unity to any one or Suchinda and Major General the streets and soldiers knowledge through experi- throughout Thailand,warning Chamlong, to sit down and returned to their barracks by ences alongside Thailand’s rural Foundation against the fundamental threats two persons, consider together in a concil- daybreak the following communities,the king consol- of communism and encour- but belongs to iatory manner and not in a morning. Major General idated this into a formal Royal commitment to development strong as ever under aging the myriad development confrontational manner,a way Chamlong moved to a forest approach now known as the leadership of Princess Sirindhorn programmes that would ulti- everyone.” to solve the problem,because retreat and General Suchinda ‘Sufficiency Economy’. mately expand upon the free- our country does not belong immediately resigned from Thailand today stands as Founded officially on 14 June is not only involved in processes to breakdown doms and opportunities His Majesty King to any one or two persons, politics,admitting his mistakes. the second largest economy 1988, the Chaipattana conventional local develop- and recycle wastewater,but available to the Thai people.As Bhumibol Adulyadej but belongs to everyone. Despite constitutional limi- in ASEAN,a country with an Foundation or ‘Victory of ment projects, but carries also includes the ingenious a result,Thailand avoided the of Thailand Therefore,we must cooperate tations on his power, His enviable level of almost full Development Foundation’ on King Bhumibol’s passion use of natural processes to devastating conflicts that devel- with one another and not Majesty’s authority is drawn employment,one of the most was established by His for innovation by working ensure that nothing goes to oped in neighbours such as people of Thailand together confront one another,because from the immense popularity competitive economies in Majesty King Bhumibol as a to develop novel solutions waste,and that value-added Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam throughout the country’s the danger is that when people and moral authority earned which to do business, and a Honorary President and to an array of challenges products are also made, throughout the 1960s and 70s. sometimes turbulent history get in a state of blind fury and over decades. Indeed, King land of opportunity for both Her Royal Highness Princess encountered by local such as fresh food from the Having understood the – the most potent example act in uncontrolled violence, Bhumibol not only serves as domestic and international Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as communities in areas such onsite fish farm. importance of reaching out being the events of September they will not even know what an example to the Thai people, businesses alike, where the Executive Chairperson, to as agriculture, sustainable This project has made a to the international commu- 1973. Widespread student they are fighting about or how but more broadly for those living standards of people be the leading royal insti- use of resources and envi- significant improvement to nity as a means of promoting demonstrations at the to solve the problem.They will that have wealth or influence throughout the country tution to help with devel- ronmental improvements. the local environment,having Thailand and developing perceived incompetence and only know that they must win. throughout the international continue to improve. King opment initiatives for the As a result new techniques installed a system of sustain- regional partnerships,the king dishonesty of the government But can there ever be a community,as role model for Bhumibol was awarded the Thai people. embarked upon a rigorous resulted in tragedy when secu- winner? Of course not.It is so how to best employ such UN Human Development Today,Princess Sirindhorn diplomatic programme from rity forces opened fire, killing very dangerous... If great wealth or influence. Lifetime Achievement Award is carrying on in her father’s the late 1950s, travelling to 77 and injuring 857. His destruction occurs in Bangkok, Having witnessed the devas- by Kofi Annan in 2006 for his footsteps by working destinations as diverse as the Majesty ordered all security then the country as a whole tating economic fallout and contribution to Thailand’s throughout the country to Vatican, Iran and the forces around the palace to is also destroyed. In such a subsequent impacts from the current success, and the encourage and instigate Philippines,with visits to the remove live ammunition from case, what is the point of Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, strong foundations he has laid socio-economic develop- USA and Canada in 1967; their weapons, and then anyone feeling proud to be King Bhumibol turned his for the future. ment projects. The Chaipattana Foundation has five core objectives focused specifically upon supporting and encour- Resilient nation recovers from floods aging socio-economic King development projects, Bhumibol has The rapid rebound after last year’s floods and as well as serving as an ideal two Thai kings and six of its carrying out projects that been an active reflects Thailand’s economic strength launch pad into other ASEAN prime ministers were UK- are beneficial to the people participant in markets,it also has a raft of free educated. However, there is of Thailand and the country Thailand’s Late last year,Thailand was hit quarter of 2011 – the highest trade agreements with always room for more collab- as a whole; all of which is socio- by some of the worst flooding three-month economic leap numerous other countries. oration.“The key priority areas conducted in a manner not economic it had experienced in decades. since Thailand started meas- Furthermore, the 2011 HSBC that we have been trying to aligned in any way with development. Heavy monsoon rains caused uring quarterly GDP in 1993. Expat Explorer Survey put promote further cooperation political affairs.
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